Participants 'vote' for their favorite startup business with fake money during Pitch & Grow XII, a competition that can net $1,000 for startup entrepreneurs.

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Dustin Hemesath took a swing at a pitch competition Wednesday with his online-based company Golf Challenges, which tracks users' rounds of golf at Iowa courses as they vie for rewards.

Unfortunately, he will have to take a mulligan and try again, as he ran out of time during his presentation at Pitch & Grow XII. Hemesath's company did not make it to the competition's final four pitch-off. But he said the experience and feedback he received from investors, mentors and other business people at the competition made the trip worth it.